September 29-30, 2025
Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman Hotel & Conference Center
Norman, OK
We look forward to having you join us at the Oklahoma School Counselor Association Conference!
We hope to see you next year!
Lead Presenter: Ryan Fitzgibbons
This session will address how colleges are using the ACT and SAT in college admissions, scholarships, and freshman class placement. The reason schools go Test Optional/Test Mandatory, and what are the ramifications for students will be discussed. The focus will be on how counselors can navigate and guide students through the evolving landscape of college admissions policies.
Lead Presenter: Ashley Gastel
Four-year college isn’t the dream for every Gen Z student—some want skills, not syllabi. In this high-energy session, we’ll dig into why the skilled trades are hotter than ever, what success means to Gen Z, and how you can connect your students to real career paths they’ve probably never considered. You’ll also get a sneak peek at SPARK, the chatbot built to answer student questions about skilled trades, jobs, and training—so you don’t have to.
Lead Presenter: Russ Sabella
This experiential workshop is designed for both beginning and experienced school counselors, educators, and other human service professionals who want to learn an innovative approach to empower their students and stake holders to better recognize and utilize their strengths. This model uses a systematic, five-step approach in which students/parents focus on solutions rather than problems. They are encouraged to think about times when their problems did not exist, and how these times contributed to the absence of the problem, and how to recreate such circumstances in their present situations. Focus is on the students/parents strengths and abilities rather than their weaknesses. Solutions are derived by the students/parents themselves and therefore not only are they more involved in their success, but the solutions fit their unique lifestyles. Finally, because they find their own solutions that work, often self-esteem is increased. With this emphasis of counseling on solutions rather than problems, counseling becomes brief.
Lead Presenter: Clyde Ponder
Schools are uniquely positioned to make a lasting impact on students’ mental health. However, many U.S. school counseling programs are struggling to support this increased need due to lack of funding or staff. Our expert will provide insight into current trends surrounding teen mental health, present actionable strategies schools can take to help, share state and federal resources available for support and lead a collaborative session for peer discussion groups.
Lead Presenter: Mandi Pratt
What if teens actually trusted themselves to act on their intuition when spotting red flags in relationships or social situations? This session will explore how strengthening self-trust through intuition can empower teens to make confident decisions and navigate challenges. Drawing on psychological principles and real-world examples, participants will learn practical strategies to help teens recognize, trust, and act on their instincts—especially when it matters most. Attendees will leave with research-backed tools to guide teens in building resilience, protecting their well-being, and thriving in an often overwhelming world.
Lead Presenter: Missy Smith
Supervision is a powerful tool that supports school counselors in growing professionally, enhancing their skills, and ultimately better serving students. This session explores how administrative and developmental supervision can be used intentionally to foster self-reflection, improve practice, and prevent burnout. Participants will learn about effective supervision models, strategies for engaging in reflective dialogue, and ways to advocate for quality supervision in their settings. Whether you’re a new counselor or a seasoned professional, this session will help you maximize supervision to become the best school counselor possible.
Lead Presenter: Angela Jones
Women and people of color have traditionally been underrepresented in the STEM career field. Traditional gender roles and stereotypes suggest which roles and career fields are appropriate for people based on their gender and race. These societal messages contribute to a low representation of girls and students of color in advanced math and science classes which can support a career in STEM. This workshop will discuss the factors that play roles in these classroom and career field disparities and steps that counselors can take to increase representation in STEM classes and subsequently STEM careers.
Lead Presenter: Teri Walls
This session will outline how to implement a semester-long ACT Review elective course that builds academic skills, reduces test anxiety, and supports post-secondary planning. We’ll highlight best practices for structuring the course, including a college readiness exploration unit, and address the new changes to the ACT, which roll out September 2025. Attendees will also learn how to maximize ACT fee waivers and free resources to remove barriers for students. Rooted in current research and focused on real-world outcomes, this evidence-based approach promotes college and career readiness while giving counselors tools to help students thrive.
Lead Presenter: Alani Staples
School counselors are uniquely positioned to lead change, yet their most impactful work often goes unnoticed. This session equips school counselors and leaders with practical tools to make that vital work visible and valued. Participants will explore how to document what matters, tell compelling data-informed stories, and utilize data not only for accountability but also as a catalyst for advocacy, clarity, and leadership.
Framed by the belief that counselors are made to thrive, this session will highlight how purposeful, evidence-based counseling programs can drive transformation. State-specific data will be utilized to identify trends, pinpoint successful strategies, and assess alignment with ASCA National Model standards.
Lead Presenter: Heather Holland
Youth mental health is in crisis, with increasing numbers of students struggling emotionally, behaviorally, and academically. Schools are on the front lines and uniquely positioned to support these needs—but many leaders feel unprepared to take the next step. This session equips school leaders with practical strategies for building meaningful, collaborative partnerships with mental health professionals. Through a mix of engaging lecture, real-world case analysis, and interactive discussion, participants will examine the impact of trauma and mental health on learning, explore school-based models of care, and assess their own district’s capacity for support. Discover how collaboration can ignite student potential and strengthen your school community from the inside out.
Lead Presenter: Matthew Sharp
Learn how to identify behavioral health concerns in children and adolescents by recognizing their changes in behavior, and understand how to further support them. Join Matthew Sharp, D.O., Cynthia Rorie LPC-S, and Hannah Nelson M.A., BCBA, LBA in a discussion about the expectation and management of acute mental health concerns in our children.
Lead Presenter: Gayle DuBois
This session will focus on what it means to brand your counseling program and, in cowboy terms “ride for the brand”. Learn how to make your program recognizable in your school and district.
Lead Presenter: Katelyn Mulvaney
Looking for fresh activity ideas to incorporate into your Tier 1 lessons? New to whole-group instruction? Join us as we discuss and model a variety of ways to make your Tier 1 content engaging and memorable for elementary students. This session will be interactive and full of movement, music, and fun. You will leave with ideas and resources to take back to your school and use immediately!
Lead Presenter: Christopher Culver
Let’s settle this once and for all: kindness isn’t soft, weak, or outdated—it’s science. In a world where students are more anxious, disconnected, and overwhelmed than ever, kindness is the strategy that builds trust, rewires the brain for resilience, and transforms school culture from the inside out. This high-energy, research-rooted session explores how kindness, Theory of Mind, and Gen Z/Alpha psychology intersect to create real change. We’ll unpack why students often shut down, how digital culture affects empathy development, and what educators can do to make kindness cool again (yes, even in middle school). You’ll leave with brain-based strategies to foster belonging, re-engage disconnected students, and shift your school culture in ways that feel less cringe—and way more connected.
Lead Presenter: Jessica Hogaboom
School counselors face unique demands that can lead to chronic stress and burnout. This session provides practical strategies to help counselors protect their well-being, set healthy boundaries, and continue doing the work with passion.
Lead Presenter: Eschelle Gilkey
This presentation highlights the strategic use of a Calendar of Student Supports to drive improved graduation outcomes. The calendar is designed to organize and monitor monthly supports aligned with key student academic, wellness, and post-secondary milestones, providing expectations and data tracking of direct and indirect student supports throughout the school year. By implementing this calendar, counselors can efficiently track student progress, ensure timely interventions, and document services provided.
Lead Presenter: Kathryn Creecy
Moore Public Schools has hosted Camp Firewheel, a summer therapeutic day camp for elementary and secondary students, for five years. Join us to learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate your own program to increase connection, resilience, and healthy coping for your students.
Lead Presenter: Suzanne Stokes
In this session, counselors will discover the benefits of integrating play into their daily routines. Research shows that play fosters creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, while also enhancing academic achievement. This session will offer practical strategies for embedding play-based learning activities into various settings and age groups. Attendees will learn how to design purposeful play experiences that engage students and promote social/emotional skills while also aligning with counseling standards. This session will provide actionable tools to bring the power of play into your school day.
Lead Presenter: Hannah Holcomb
Oklahoma has the highest level of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the United States — exposing our children to more painful and traumatic events than those in any other state (HALO, 2023). In light of this, it is critical that school counselors take intentional steps to assess the unique needs of their school communities before forming small groups. By identifying specific challenges within the student population, counselors can tailor group interventions that are both relevant and impactful. Utilizing play therapy techniques in these small groups allows counselors to connect with our most vulnerable children in developmentally appropriate ways—fostering trust, safety, and growth. These skills serve not only as interventions but as preventative tools—promoting resilience and well-being across the entire school environment.
Lead Presenter: Sabrina Wood
Did you know the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education has over 15 free programs to support students, families and educators as they prepare for education beyond high school? Join us to learn about each program supporting concurrent enrollment, FAFSA completion, Oklahoma’s Promise, scholarship access, financial education, micro-credentials, teacher recruitment, professional development for educators, and so much more!
Lead Presenter: Cheryl Evans
Professional school counselors in small schools wear many hats, so the task of implementing a comprehensive school counseling program can seem overwhelming and maybe even out of reach. This session will focus on how advocacy and planning help moving toward the creation of a program that is aligned with the needs of students and school community, even when counselors feel very limited on time and resources. Practical ideas and strategies for implementing small steps that can lead to big gains for students and teachers will be shared so that participants walk away with actionable insights and a clear direction for their counseling programs.
Lead Presenter: Heather Ellis
This session will discuss bringing the student’s world together by building lasting relationships with parents. Being an educator means understanding that parents want what is best for their child, but their resources could be extremely limited. Uniting teams of teachers, leaders, parents and students will create a support system that inevitably encourages student growth and success.
Lead Presenter: Jasmine Newton
School counselors play a critical role in supporting student athletes and their families as they navigate the path to college athletics. This session will explore how counselors can proactively assist students with NCAA eligibility, academic planning, and college recruitment readiness. Attendees will gain strategies for educating families about athletic and academic requirements, setting up NCAA profiles, and understanding the timeline for post-secondary athletic opportunities. The session will also highlight the importance of building strong, collaborative relationships with coaches to ensure consistent support and communication. Ideas for parent engagement, outreach events, and partnerships will be shared to help counselors create equitable access to resources and opportunities for all aspiring student athletes.
Lead Presenter: Matthew Berry
Are you curious about the potential of using artificial intelligence in school counseling? Attend this workshop where we delve into the innovative realm of “Using AI in School Counseling.” As education and technology converge, AI offers exciting possibilities to enhance student support, streamline tasks, and provide personalized interventions.
Lead Presenter: Christopher Culver
Let’s be real—today’s students are low-key lonely and high-key overwhelmed. Behind the screen time and short attention spans are young people craving connection, kindness, and understanding. This session explores how the Science of Kindness, Theory of Mind, and Gen Z/Alpha brain research can unlock new ways to build trust, create belonging, and rewire school culture for the better. Through research-backed insights and interactive activities, we’ll unpack how to connect with students who feel “seen online but invisible IRL.” From understanding adolescent empathy development to using kindness as a cognitive strategy, this session brings together the science and the heart of what it takes to reach the most anxious generation to date.
Lead Presenter: Nathan Brubaker
With Galaxy, learners discover the diversity of workplace opportunities while also uncovering more about themselves and their interests through an interactive and game-based digital platform. Galaxy also offers hope for special needs students in Middle and High school to participate with Individual Career and Academic Plan.
Lead Presenter: Latia Banks
When pressure builds, presence fades. This session dives into real-world stories and science-backed strategies that reveal how resilience education can reignite engagement. Learn how to spot hidden barriers, foster mental stamina, and empower consistent attendance—whether in school, work, or life. Help others show up strong, even when the mountain feels steep. This presentation is an empowering experience that blends actionable strategies with inspiration, empowering educators to build a thriving school culture using the “Pole Pole” method. Attendees will explore how resilience education can drive student success and elevate engagement by fostering psychological safety, self-efficacy, and optimism.
Lead Presenter: Karrie Bales
Chronic absenteeism is a leading early warning sign of academic failure, disengagement, and long-term dropout risk. It often reflects deeper challenges related to school climate, safety, and student connection. Barriers to attendance should be recognized, understood, and addressed with care. This session explores how MTSS can guide schools in using data to drive effective interventions. Participants will learn how to analyze attendance patterns, identify root causes, and implement Tier 1, 2, and 3 supports that promote reengagement, accountability, and connection. Emphasis will be placed on Tier 3 strategies, including addressing obstacles to consistent attendance and knowing when and how to involve the court system. The session will also explore how to build productive relationships within the court system to better support students.
Lead Presenter: Tracy Rodney
As high school students near graduation, they are often faced with the daunting question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question can spark a range of emotions and uncertainties for students as they try to navigate their futures. Educators can help students achieve career satisfaction and success in their chosen paths by providing the necessary support and resources. By fostering an environment where students can explore various fields, reflect on their experiences, and identify what truly excites them, we can help pave the way for student success.
Lead Presenter: Lori Kemmet
Research indicates a correlation between early college campus visits and increased college attendance (Smith et al., 2022). However, middle school students struggle to make a direct connection between college and careers. This session introduces campus visit companion lessons from the K20 Center’s LEARN website that focus on jobs and post-secondary education. These lessons also connect students’ personal interests to the newly revisited 14 CTE career clusters. Over 6,000 7th and 8th graders in Oklahoma have engaged with these lessons; their feedback indicates a highly positive impact. In this session, participants will examine the impact of early college visits on middle school students, reflect on the knowledge gained, and explore opportunities for successful implementation at their sites. *Individual devices needed to navigate online.
Lead Presenter: Karrie Bales
Effective partnerships between school counselors and School Resource Officers (SROs) can transform school climate and student outcomes. This session is designed for school counselors who want to better understand the role of SROs and how to build effective working relationships. Participants will gain practical strategies for building trust, improving communication, and aligning efforts around student safety, mental health, crisis response, and academic achievement. Topics include the evolving role of the SRO, collaborative threat assessment, and addressing chronic absenteeism through a shared lens. Attendees will leave with tools for fostering trust, mutual respect, and student-centered collaboration with law enforcement partners.
Lead Presenter: Candera Lomax
When you were little and you were afraid, who did you run to? This simple yet profound question unlocks the heart of attachment theory. The answer often defines how we cope, relate, and grow. In schools, students bring their attachment issues into every interaction, shaping how they respond to relationships, regulate, and learn. This session presents findings from recent research that utilized attachment as a theoretical framework, and explores how school counselors, teachers, and school administrators can use the theory as a lens for understanding behavior, supporting emotional development and build classroom/school environments rooted in safety and connection.
Lead Presenter: Lindsay Ross
In a school setting, reaching all students can be a challenge. It absolutely takes all hands on deck, but it is possible to foster a culture where all students have a connection to at least one adult in your building. In this presentation, you will learn how the counselors at Glenpool Middle School create meaningful opportunities to help all students feel supported at school. The goal is to create connections with one hundred percent of students.
Lead Presenter: Karrie Bales
School counselors are essential members of Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) teams, offering insight that helps prevent harm while ensuring students receive appropriate support. This session walks participants through each step of the BTAM process, clarifying how to identify concerning behaviors, collaborate with team members, and distinguish between transient and substantive threats. Case examples will illustrate how missed warning signs have led to serious outcomes—and how early action can make all the difference. Attendees will leave with practical tools, an understanding of their legal responsibilities, and confidence in their role on the team.
Lead Presenter: Mary Beth Roberts
Happiness is a choice. School counselors have choices… so choose a program that thrives and brings happiness to all! This session is designed to empower school counselors to cultivate a comprehensive school counseling program that thrives while fostering balance. Attendees will learn strategies and examine resources that can be utilized to foster a positive school culture, balance the daily demands, and encourage thriving in themselves and others.
Lead Presenter: Kyle Mitchell
Engaging male students in mental health can be challenging, but The DUDE Project provides a solution. This session introduces a proactive, high-energy approach that equips school counselors with strategies to help male students develop emotional resilience, social confidence, and accountability. Attendees will learn evidence-based techniques to break through disengagement, encourage self-reflection, and promote positive coping skills. Participants will walk away with practical tools to better support male students in their emotional and social development, ultimately improving school climate and student well-being.
Lead Presenter: Julie Childers
Findings in a May 2024 study of research support an earlier finding: student participation in CTE courses positively impacts student success, high school completion, employability, and college readiness. Using the CareerTech Pathways, plus your school’s course offerings, can allow students multiple pathways to the same occupation. We will discuss using information from ICAP to gain buy-in and student/parent participation in pathway decisions.
National Center for Youth Issues
ATTN: OK-SCA
P.O. Box 22185
Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
